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A Guide To Choosing A Wood Burning Fireplace

Mar 26th 2015 at 4:01 AM

Did you know that adding a fireplace to your home can actually increase its value? Fireplaces conjure up images of warmth and quiet relaxation. They make a home feel homier, and that’s a feeling people value. A fireplace is an investment, both literally and in terms of the ways in which it enhances the experience of living in your home. There are a lot of options you need to consider before deciding which fireplace is the perfect one for you. One of the first things to ask yourself is, are you primarily looking for ambiance, or to offset your heating bill?

Many people assume that all fireplaces increase the temperatures of the rooms they’re in, but in fact, a traditional masonry model – the one most people think of first when they hear the word “fireplace” – can lose a great deal of heat up the chimney. This isn’t a big problem if you’re buying the fireplace mostly for how it looks, or if you’re only going to be burning the occasional fire. But if you want to use your fireplace daily, or if you’re trying to generate heat and cut your gas bill, you will want to go with a more efficient option. Closed combustion systems – those with glass doors that must be closed in order for the fire to burn – can save you a great deal of money on your heating bill in the long term. They can even be installed within an existing masonry fireplace.

On the other hand, if you want to be able to enjoy the flames and the crackling of burning wood, you should consider a masonry fireplace. Because they must remain closed in order to operate, high-efficiency models don’t contribute as much to the overall atmosphere of the room they’re in. If you’re looking to create a focal point in a room, an open combustion model may be the best way to go. These may also include glass doors, but the doors may remain open as the fire burns, making the fire a more predominant focus in the room.

You will also want to consider the realities of your physical space when choosing fireplace models. If you wish to heat a high-ceilinged room or large area, you might look at models that include a fan for more efficient heat distribution, and you’ll want to try to position the fireplace optimally so that the space is heated as evenly and completely as possible. For masonry models, examine where you’d like the fireplace to be located in the room and how various styles will fit aesthetically in that space.